Where to Find Carnelian in the United States
45 mapped carnelian spots across 12 U.S. states. Carnelian is reddish-orange chalcedony, traditionally a rounded, water-worn piece in beach gravels and dry washes. Lake Michigan, Oregon, and California beaches all produce hobby-grade carnelian.
Map showing where to find carnelian across the United States, with 45 mapped spots
Top states for carnelian
States ranked by number of carnelian spots in our database. States in bold link to a focused carnelian-in-state list.
Every carnelian spot we track
Sorted by state and county. Coordinates open in Google Maps.
Carnelian rockhounding FAQ
Where is the best place to find carnelian in the U.S.?+
Washington, Oregon, North Carolina have the highest concentrations of carnelian in this list. Each state's quality and access varies — open the linked state pages for a detailed view.
How many carnelian rockhounding spots does RockHoundR track?+
45 mapped spots across 12 states. The app keeps these on a map alongside your private finds.
Can I legally collect carnelian on public land?+
Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals like carnelian is allowed on most BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with daily and annual limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are off-limits. Always check with the managing agency before a trip.
How do I identify carnelian in the field?+
Field identification of carnelian comes down to color, hardness, fracture, and luster. The RockHoundR app links to geology details for each spot to help narrow down what you might be picking up.
Hunt carnelian on the map
Open RockHoundR to see these spots on a real map with public land overlays and trip-planning details.
